Happy 200th Birthday, Samuel J Tilden, NY Governor/NY Public Library Founder

Born, February 9, 1814
February 9, 2014 marks the 200th Anniversary of Samuel J. Tilden's birth.

If his friends and family were here today, they would hold up their glasses and toast him for his competence as a first class man and reformer politician. To them he was the go to guy to get things done the right way. His best friend, John Bigelow, wrote these words after publishing his biography:
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“I am disposed to regard as my duty to a faithful friend, as well as to the great community of which he had been for full half a century a devoted servant and benefactor. “His public life spanned a larger portion of the history of our Republic than that of any other eminent American statesman, and he occupied the unique position in our history of being the only one selected by the nation for its chief magistracy, who was never clothed with its responsibilities. That there was much in such a life which those to whom the future destinies of our country are to be confided, may study with profit, there can be no doubt.

“The contribution to the facilities for this study, attempted in these pages, inadequate as I am conscious it is, and imperfect as any record of such a life must be, written before Time’s effacing finger has obliterated the transient memories of a more or less stormy career, and revealed its durable outline and grand proportions, will, I trust, be not without some value. When the passions and prejudices engendered by political strife shall, as in due time they will subside,

“Mr. Tilden’s place among the foremost and wisest statesmen of our country will be cheerfully recognized. If, however, I owe to his memory, as I suppose I do, any further duty as a friend and patriot, it is a duty which my increasing years admonish me must not be deferred.” ...John Bigelow

Since my discovery of Samuel Tilden early 1990's I find myself still amazed by his wit and humor. His generosity and genius during and after his life ended. Following political news daily, I have yet to find one anyone that comes close to his love of country.

Few, if any, will remember his legacy as the Greatest Democrat Ever. Especially those in his own party that has changed so drastically over the years, Tilden would be horrified by their incompetence. When Tilden was elected to the Presidency in 1876 voters across the nation knew nothing of free cell phones, Food Stamps or Welfare benefits. Tilden didn't have to buy voters, they willingly cast their ballots for a candidate they trusted.

My efforts and writings have not gone un-noticed - many politicians know my work regarding Tilden, but ignore the message to cease their corrupt practices.

One lady in particular wrote an article I was thrilled to read which exposes the truth about Tilden's gift of a free New York Public Library for the public which planned well before his death. He didn't do it for a tax write-off as many do today (there was no Income tax in those days). He did it because books were very expensive and only available to the very rich. Read her article:

Celebrating the Centennial: The Tilden Library by Kathie Coblentz, Rare Materials Cataloger, Collections Strategy/Special Formats Processing August 25, 2011

Contrary to what you may have heard — or thought you heard, at least — this year does not mark the centennial of The New York Public Library. The centennial marks the opening of what many still think of as the Library's "main branch" on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, the Beaux-Arts landmark recently rechristened the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. But we could also call it the centennial of the Tilden Library, as I'll explain...read the rest at:  http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/08/25/my-centennial-post-tilden-library

Published in New York Times:

HONORING HIS BIRTHDAY; BANQUETS IN MEMORY OF SAMUEL J. TILDEN. HENRY WATTERSON AND OTHER DEMOCRATS RECALL THE GENIUS AND VIRTUES OF THE DEPARTED STATESMAN.

Samuel J. Tilden would have been 75 years old had he lived until yesterday. The members of the Harlem Democratic Club remembered the anniversary and honored it by a fine banquet in their clubhouse in East One Hundred and Twenty-fifth-street. Nearly 150 gentlemen, including many distinguished Democrats, participated in the event...click here to read full article.

In closing, my Tilden work continues--hopefully, I will complete the documentary before my death. God knows I've growled many times when I read of millions of dollars being wasted on junk films, yet can't get Hollywood or any so call liberal politician interested in producing a film about in my opinion, the Greatest Politician Ever...words most of us would choke on about politicians in office today...Harsh comparison maybe you're thinking...but in my opinion, the truth. They place their egos and wealth ahead of the people --something Tilden, would never have even considered. His dedication to his work and life was his purpose, to see America succeed.